If there’s one thing we all learned during Australia’s many lockdowns, it’s that making your cocktails at home is a lot cheaper than paying $18 for one at your favourite inner-city bar.
With most office workers opting to work from home on Fridays now, the era of post-work drinks on a Friday is long gone.
But you can still enjoy a fruity beverage or two from the comfort of your own home with these fun and easy cocktail kits and recipes.
Can’t go out for happy hour? We’ve got it sorted.
(Credit: Pexels)Making your own cocktails is usually cheaper and you can be a lot more conscious of your alcohol intake, or opt for a non-alcoholic liquor if you’re cutting out booze.
And if you didn’t dabble in DIY cocktails during the pandemic, now is the perfect time to teach yourself a little bit of at-home mixology!
We’ve rounded up the best recipes and at-home kits to make DIY cocktails cheap and easy, so keep scrolling for our top 12 picks.
Please remember to drink responsibly. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Santa Margherita mimosa, $19.99 via Dan Murphy’s
You can never go past a classic mimosa, which just happens to be one of the easiest cocktails to make yourself. Grab a bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore full of fine and persistent bubbles and top it up with a splash of ornage juice – fresh squeezed if you want a touch of luxury. Add a slice of orange or strawberry to the rim of your glass and you’re done!
Santa Margherita bellini, $19.99 via Dan Murphy’s
You can also whip up a bellini with that same delicious prosecco with notes of juicy peach, pear, acacia blossom and wild strawberry. Simply mix it with peach purée and you’re ready for a summer afternoon of sipping. And yes, you can buy the peach puree if you couldn’t be bothered making it at home!
The Grand Dame Gin & Tonic Hamper, $140 via The Hamper Emporium
Gin lovers will be obsessed with this snazzy cocktail hamper packed with everything you need for the fanciest G&T of your life. You get a bottle of the ‘Grand Dame’ Gin from Maggie’s Orchard, paired with luxe tonic water and a selection of gourmet nibbles. Oh, and did we mention there’s free delivery?
Espresso Martini Cocktail Hamper, $183 via Gourmet Basket
We all love an espresso martini, but who could be bothered going to a bar these days? Sip your favourite tipple from the comfort of your own couch with this all-inclusive hamper packed with Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Absolut Vodka, Bondi Circus Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate and
Byron Bay Coffee Company Dark Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans. Yummy.
Aperol Spritz Cocktail Hamper, $112 via Gourmet Basket
Channel the Amalfi Coast without leaving the house with this kit, complete with tasty treats to accompany your cocktails. Everything is full-size, so you can cater to a group of friends or treat yourself to an Aperol every Friday for a month. We know which option we’d pick…
Basic Babe Boxtails, $30 via BWS
What’s better than one pre-made cocktail? A whole box! Basic Babe have just launched read-to-drink “boxtails” in three tantalising flavours: Raspberry & Lime Margarita, Passionfruit Martini and Pink Gin Daiquiri. Not only are they cute and delicious, they’re also completely natural (made from real fruit juice), 99% sugar-free, and only 60 calories per serve. Yum!
Pick up a 2L box online for just $30 from BWS.
Messina Dulce De Leche Espresso Martini Cocktail Kit, $85 via cocktail porter
Hearing the words “Messina” and “espresso martini” in the same sentence has our mouths watering already.
This easy kit from Cocktail Porter comes with the lot: Ketel One Vodka, coffee liqueur, premium cold drip coffee, and most importantly Messina’s Dulce De Leche Topping, and Chocolate Hazelnut Spread. YUM. Shop it on the Cocktail Porter site starting from $85. You can also shop the Cocktail Porter range through the Dan Murphy’s website.
Dubliner Whiskey’s Dublin Mule, $50.99 via Dan Murphy’s
Whiskey fans don’t need to look much further than this for something refreshing on a Friday afternoon at home. The recipe is simple and lets Dubliner Whiskey & Honeycomb Liqueur ($47.99) really be the star.
Ingredients: 45ml Dubliner Whiskey & Honeycomb Liqueur, 90ml Ginger Beer, 10ml Fresh Lime Juice, lime wedge.
Method: Fill highball glass with fresh, chunky ice. Pour in Dubliner, fresh lime juice and top with ginger beer. Add lime wedges to garnish and stir.
Twister Shaker cocktail range, starting at $14.99 via Bevmart
Don’t fancy mixing up a cocktail yourself? No worries, they come pre-made from Twisted Shaker and you can order them right to your door.
The range includes a Raspberry Hibiscus Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini, Tequila Margarita, Cucumber Gin Gimlet and Whiskey Old Fashioned, and yeah, we’re thirsty now. With prices starting at $14.99, you may as well treat yourself.
Reese Witherspoon’s 4-Ingredient Cocktail
Cheers Sweetie cocktail kits, starting from $83 via Cheers Sweetie
Starting from $83, these cocktail kits come in just about every flavour, liquor and beverage style you can imagine. We’re particularly keen on trying the fruit tingle kit (shop it here for $102) because, well, look at that drink.
You can also shop the Cheers Sweetie range at the Dan Murphy’s website.
The Cocktail Shop kits, starting from $39.99 via The Cocktail Shop
You’ve heard of a G&T, but have you heard of a V&T? It’s a vermouth take on the classic cocktail and it looks downright delicious. The V&T is just one of many cocktail kits The Cocktail Shop offers and yeah, we’ll admit it – we want to try them all.
With prices starting from $39.99, these are the perfect kits for anyone on a budget looking to turn their kitchen into a home bar.
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